Dashboards#
Scrutinizer further enhances diverse network and security workflows through user-configurable dashboards, which can be configured and accessed via the Monitor > Dashboards page of the web interface.
Teams can set up and save any number of fully customized dashboards, allowing for the use of purpose-built views to address even the most unique monitoring or investigative requirements.
This section discusses the features and functions accessed via the Monitor > Dashboards tab/section of the web interface, and includes detailed guides for the creation, customization, and management of dashboards.
On this page:
Creating a new dashboard#
Creating a dashboard in the Monitor > Dashboards page allows users to enhance various network and security workflows by enabling tailored views to meet even the most specific monitoring or investigative needs. It also allows users to switch between different unique views to segregate monitoring requirements and workflows. Creating a dashboard is a highly recommended step when setting up a new Scrutinizer environment.
To create a new dashboard, follow these steps:
Click the Dashboard Options icon (gear icon), and then click Add New Dashboard.
Enter a unique name for the dashboard.
[Optional] To set the dashboard as the default (for the current user), tick the Default Dashboard checkbox.
[Optional] To lock the dashboard (cannot be edited), tick the Read Only checkbox.
[Optional] Select the gadgets to add to the new dashboard from the Gadget Selection list.
Note
Gadgets can also be added or removed later as needed.
When done, click Save to create the new dashboard with the selected gadgets, if any.
Once the dashboard has been created, it will replace the current view and can be accessed via Dashboard Options > All Dashboards at any time.
Hint
To use an existing dashboard as a base/template instead, create a copy from Edit Dashboard or Dashboard Options.
Viewing dashboards#
The Monitor > Dashboards view displays the current default dashboard. Switching to a different dashboard can be done by clicking the Dashboard List (meter) icon. This opens the All Dashboards tray which displays all the existing dashboards. Clicking either the dashboard name or the link icon automatically changes the dashboard in the current view.
The All Dashboards tray can also be accessed via the Dashboard Options (gear icon).
Default dashboard
The default dashboard is what the user sees upon first opening the Monitor > Dashboards page. This can be set via the main Dashboards page or via the Admin page.
To set a dashboard as default in the main Dashboards page:
Click on a dashboard name in the All Dashboards tray, and then enter edit mode.
Click Modify/Rename, and then tick the Default Dashboard checkbox.
Click Save.
Setting a default dashboard via the Admin page enables an admin to set a user’s default view. To do this:
Click the three-dot menu, and then click Edit User.
Click Preferences, and then select a dashboard from the Default Dashboard dropdown.
Click Save.
Note
The default dashboard is set only for the current user.
Refresh dashboard
Dashboard gadgets automatically update at regular intervals. A countdown showing the time until the next automatic refresh is also displayed when mousing over the gadget tile. By default, refresh interval is set to 5 minutes. This can be changed in the Display Options when editing a gadget.
To manually refresh a gadget, click the Refresh Dashboard icon.
Full screen
The Full Screen option expands the dashboard to occupy the entire screen, maximizing the space available for viewing data visualizations and insights. This feature can be ideal for large displays in NOCs.
At the bottom of the screen, there are three available options that allow you to exit full screen mode, refresh the data of all the gadgets displayed in the dashboard, and edit the gadget layout. The dashboard name is displayed beside these three options.
Editing/customizing dashboards#
Existing dashboards can be modified or further customized by clicking the Edit Dashboard icon (pencil icon). A dashboard cannot be modified if it has been set to read-only. If you wish to edit an existing dashboard but retain a copy of its current state, you can choose to copy the dashboard before making any changes. See the Copying dashboards section for more information.
Adding/removing gadgets
New and existing gadgets can be added to a dashboard depending on the specific tasks and workflows that the user needs. To learn more about the different types of gadgets that can be added, refer to the dashboard gadgets section.
To add an existing gadget, follow these steps:
Click the Edit Dashboard icon (pencil icon).
In the Gadgets section, click the Add Existing Gadget icon (+).
Tick the checkbox beside the gadget(s) that you want to add.
Hint
Use the search field to enter the name of the gadget that you want to add, or use the dropdown menu to filter and view the existing gadgets according to type.
To create a new gadget, refer to the external gadgets section.
Gadgets can also be removed at any time. To do this, click the trash icon by the right hand side of the gadget that you want to delete/remove.
Editing gadget layout
The Edit Gadget Layout feature allows users to customize the arrangement and appearance of visual elements within the current dashboard. Clicking the four-arrow icon enables the Edit Gadget Layout where you can drag and drop the gadgets to rearrange their positions and resize them. Clicking the icon a second time exits the Edit Gadget Layout mode.
Additional options
When editing a dashboard, you can change the dashboard name via the Modify/Rename section. The dashboard can also be set as default or read-only in this section. The read-only option locks the dashboard’s current configuration to prevent unintended changes, especially when it is shared among multiple users.
The Options section enables users to copy the current dashboard, create a new dashboard, or remove the current dashboard.
Dashboard management#
The Dashboard Options tray can be accessed from the main Monitor > Dashboards view and provides access to dashboard and gadget management functions as well as user/user group access controls.
Deleting dashboards
To delete an existing dashboard, select All Dashboards in the tray, and then click the corresponding delete icon in the secondary tray.
A dashboard can also be deleted from the dashboard configuration tray by expanding the Options section and then selecting Remove This Dashboard.
Users that do not have the Dashboard Admin permission cannot delete dashboards created by other users. Dashboards that are set as default or read-only cannot be deleted.
Copying dashboards
The Copy This Dashboard option saves a copy of the current dashboard under a specified name. This function can be used to make modifications to an existing dashboard configuration while retaining the dashboard’s current state.
This option can also be accessed from dashboard edit/settings tray.
Deleting gadgets
To delete an existing gadget, select All Gadgets, and then click the corresponding delete icon in the secondary tray.
To find specific gadgets more quickly, use the dropdown to display gadgets by category.
Managing user and user group access
Users with the Dashboard Admin permission can manage access to dashboards by user or by user group from the Dashboard Options tray.
To grant a user or user group access to one or more existing dashboards:
Click User Dashboards/User Group Dashboards.
In the secondary tray, select the user/user group from the dropdown.
Use the checkboxes to select all dashboards the user/user group should be granted access to.
Click the Save button to save any changes made.
Once granted access to a dashboard, a user/user group member will be able to view and copy a dashboard. However, they cannot edit or delete dashboards created by other users.
Note
To fully access a dashboard, a user must also be granted access to the dashboard’s gadgets through their user group.
A user can only manage dashboard access for other members of their user group(s). Additionally, they are only able to grant access to dashboards that have been created by members of their user group(s).
Dashboard gadgets#
Each Scrutinizer dashboard can be tailored to a specific task, workflow, or user through its gadget configuration. When selecting gadgets, they are divided into the following categories:
Custom
Flow Analytics
Flow Reports
Maps
Plixer
Top n
Vendor Reports
Vitals
All gadgets automatically refresh to display the most up-to-date information and can also be clicked to access more detailed views.
Hint
Gadgets can be manually updated outside of their automatic refresh times (displayed in the gadget header) by clicking the refresh button.
Gadget types
Gadgets are divided into several types that can be added to dashboards in any combination:
Core gadgets
Scrutinizer ships with a core library of general-purpose gadgets that can be added when creating or editing a dashboard. These include gadgets for monitoring system health and performance, in addition to those for tracking important network information.
For new installs, the Welcome dashboard is displayed by default with the following gadgets:
Configuration Checklist - Displays the configuration status (in percentage) of the Scrutinizer environment.
Quick Start - Provides helpful links for understanding the basic functions of the Dashboards page.
Enabled Exporters - Displays the total percentage of exporters enabled in the Scrutinizer environment.
Alarm Monitor - Displays a graphic summary of alarms generated within the last 24 hours, categorized by severity.
Contact Us - Provides Plixer’s contact information for additional support.
Report gadgets
Any Scrutinizer report can be added to dashboards after it has been exported as a gadget from the output/results view. This enables the creation of dashboards that are uniquely customized to monitor any aspect of network performance or behavior.
After a report has been exported, it will be added to the list of available gadgets when creating or editing a dashboard. The report gadget can be edited from the Monitor > Dashboards view. Enter the dashboard edit mode, and then click the pencil icon by the right hand side of the report gadget.
To learn more about creating and configuring reports, see the Reports section.
Network maps
After a spatial or geographical map is created, it is automatically made available as a dashboard gadget. If the network map is reconfigured at a later time, the gadget will also be updated to reflect any changes made.
When creating or editing a dashboard, all existing network maps will be included in the list of gadgets that can be added.
To learn more about creating and configuring network maps, see the network maps section of this documentation.
Custom gadgets
There are two types of custom/external gadgets that can be added to any dashboard:
iframe: Gadgets that display another webpage on the dashboard, including external sites.
interfaces: Allow users to add a custom-configured display showing interface speeds and traffic to the dashboard.
To add a custom gadget, do the following:
Enter dashboard edit mode, and then click Create New Gadget.
Select the type of gadget.
Depending on the type of gadget selected, provide the following details:
Name/label for the gadget
Gadget URL
Refresh interval for the gadget (in minutes)
Display options
Exporters
Interfaces
Click Save To Dashboard.
Once a gadget has been added, it becomes available for use in other dashboards.
Note
URLs for external gadgets must include the
http(s)://prefix to avoid a 404 error. Additionally, certain HTTP content may not load if Scrutinizer is using HTTPS.Iframe gadgets cannot be created/added unless the Scrutinizer server allows external URLs. Contact Plixer Technical Support for assistance.
Feature-based gadgets
Certain gadgets bundled with Scrutinizer provide additional visibility when specific features are enabled/configured. These include gadgets that complement optional integrations, such as FlowPro, or leverage additional flow data forwarded by specific devices.
Editing a gadget
Click the Edit Dashboard icon (pencil icon).
In the Gadgets section, click the pencil icon beside the gadget you wish to edit to open the gadget tray.
Configure the necessary gadget settings.
Click Save.
Managing gadget access via user groups
Access to gadgets can be managed via user group permissions.
Navigate to Admin > Users & Groups > User Groups.
Click the three-dot menu beside the user group name.
Click Edit User Group.
In the user group tray, click the pencil icon for Dashboard Gadgets.
Then, either select All Gadgets to grant the user group access to all dashboard gadgets or select only the specific gadgets that the user group can access.
Changes are automatically saved upon selecting the gadget.